Since the Green Bay Packers traded for their new projected starting Mike linebacker Zaire Franklin, he had no remaining guarantees left on his deal. In theory, he could have been a very flexible piece for the Packers this summer, as they could have chosen to move off him, via a release or trade, before his 2026 salary was guaranteed in Week 1, as a vested veteran of the league.
Instead, the Packers have already touched Franklin’s contract, giving him some extra money and guarantees. Presumably, this was either a do-right decision or to avoid a potential holdout situation, since the move does not benefit Green Bay financially or cap-wise in any way.
Ultimately, the Packers gave Franklin a $2 million raise in 2026 and guaranteed $3.75 million of the total money due for him (in the form of a signing bonus that he didn’t previously have) while keeping his 2027 cash flow flat. Moving forward, Franklin will have a $7.1 million cap hit in 2026, but now the team would only save $3.38 million on the cap if they moved on from Franklin before Week 1, compared to the $7 million that was an option prior. In 2027, he will carry a $10.9 million cap hit. He’ll bring in $9 million in cash in both 2026 and 2027.
Green Bay kept him on a two-year deal without adding any void years, either.
In other previously not-reported news, safety Xavier McKinney received a $1.5 million roster bonus in 2027 as part of his contract restructure that created cap space for Green Bay this offseason. Because the Packers kicked the can on McKinney’s money, they’re highly incentivized to give him a new contract next year to lower his cap hit. With the new roster bonus, they’re also compelled to make the decision early in the 2027 offseason, before the bonus triggers, instead of dragging it out. It seems like his camp wanted to protect him from a Jaire Alexander-type situation.